"Detention Without Physical Examination and Increased Surveillance of Dried Fruits"

The history of detentions of dried preserved and/or sweetened plums from Hong Kong between March 1 and September 1, 1986, resulted in these products being detained without physical examination due to the presence of insect and/or rodent filth and non-nutritive sweeteners (saccharin and/or cyclamates).

During FY '87 ORA conducted an import targeting project for preserved fruits. Samples of preserved, sweetened, dehydrated, candied, dried or salted fruits from Southeast Asian countries were collected. Analyses revealed non-permitted or undeclared color additives and non-nutritive sweeteners, a problem that appears to be pervasive in the industry.

Dried preserved fruits from TAIWAN were found to contain non-nutritive sweeteners (saccharin and/or cyclamates, and one contained dulcin) and unapproved and/or undeclared color additives such as FD&C Yellow #5 C.I. No. 19140 - tartrazine) FD&C Red #3 C.I. No. 45430 - Erythrosine), and Carmoisine (C.I. No. 14720 - former ext. D&C Red #10).

Samples of dried, preserved fruit from HONG KONG and the PEOPLES REPUBLIC OF CHINA were found to contain non-nutritive sweeteners, insect and/or rodent filth, and/or undeclared or non-permitted color additives.

In addition to the above, examination of data from PODS, Import Detention System, and the import targeting project revealed violative samples from Thailand, Japan, Korea, and the Philippines; however, the number of violative samples was not enough to detain these countries without physical examination.

THAILAND - Samples contained non-nutritive sweeteners cyclamates and/or saccharin), undeclared color additives (FD&C Yellow #5 - Tartrazine (certifiable as FD&C Yellow No. 5), or Sunset Yellow FCF (certifiable as FD&C Yellow No. 6), and insect and/or rodent filth.

JAPAN - Samples contained unapproved color additives, undeclared Tartrazine, and the non-nutritive sweetener saccharin).

KOREA - Undeclared Tartrazine and the non-nutritive sweetener saccharin were found in one sample.

PHILIPPINES - Samples contained the unapproved color additive Amaranth C.I. No. 16185 - former FD&C Red #2) and undeclared Sunset Yellow FCF.

Examples of types of dried preserved fruits which were found violative include: papaya, kumquats, prunes, mixed fruits, sugar palm fruit, sweet fruit, plum, mango, jujube fruit, mayom, lemon, grapes, olives, and tamarind.

Dried fruit that has not been treated with preserving material (i.e.,
sweeteners, salt) are not subject to detention under this alert. These products should be treated in accordance with normal import procedures.

Between August 1990 and January 1991, New York District collected 31 samples of various dried, preserved fruit products from two manufacturers/shippers in Singapore. 7 of the 16 samples from Meng Chong Foodstuffs PTE.LTD were found to contain cyclamates while 12 of the 15 samples from Kee Wee Hup Kee Manufacture PTE. LTD were found to contain cyclamates. Additionally, nine of the samples from Kee Wee Hup Kee were found to contain undeclared saccharin.

***Products other than dried and dried and preserved fruits should be covered under the guidance of Import Alert 45-07 for undeclared and/or non-permitted sweeteners.***

This alert is intended to apply only to fruits that are dried and dried and preserved by adding sweeteners or salt.

Fruit that is treated by drying alone is not subject to detention without physical examination under this alert and should be handled in accordance with normal import procedures.

Districts may detain without physical examination shipments of dried preserved fruits from HONG KONG, PEOPLES REPUBLIC OF CHINA and TAIWAN except products from those ***manufacturers/***shippers identified in the Green List below.

Districts may detain without physical examination shipments of dried preserved fruits from the manufacturers/shippers identified in the Red List below.

Intensified coverage of dried fruits from other manufacturers/shippers for cyclamates, saccharin, insect/rodent filth, and color additives is indicated.

If products are detained under this import alert and the importer or other responsible party submits documentation to demonstrate that the goods are not preserved by means other than drying, the products may be released.

Continued coverage of dried fruits from Thailand, Japan, Korea, and the
Philippines as well as other countries for insect/rodent filth, cyclamates, undeclared saccharin, and non-permitted color additives is indicated.

Surveillance of other preserved and/or sweetened fruits from these and other countries is indicated.

For questions or issues concerning science, science policy, sample collection, analysis, preparation, or analytical methodology, contact the Division of Field Science at (301) 796-6600.

All requests for removal from detention without physical examination should be address to DIOP 301-796-0356.

Dried Preserved Fruits

For Detention Without Physical Examination charge:

1. Insect and/or Rodent Filth:

"The article is subject to refusal of admission pursuant to Section 801(a)(3) in that it appears to contain insect and/or rodent filth [Adulteration, 402(a)(3)]."

OASIS charge code - FILTHY

2. Artificial Sweeteners a) Undeclared Saccharin:

"The article is subject to refusal of admission pursuant to Section 801(a)(3) in that it fails to declare the presence of saccharin as an added ingredient [Misbranded 403(i)]."

OASIS charge code - SACCHARLBL

3. Unsafe Food Additives a) Cyclamates and/or Dulcin:

"The article is subject to refusal of admission pursuant to Section 801(a)(3) in that it appears to contain cyclamate and/or dulcin, an unsafe food additive within the meaning of Section 409. [Adulteration, 402(a)(2)(c)]"

OASIS charge code - UNSAFE ADD

4. Unsafe Color Additives: "The article is subject to refusal of admission pursuant to Section 801(a)(3) in that it appears to contain color additives which are unsafe within the meaning of 721(a). [Adulteration, 402(c)]"

OASIS charge code - UNSAFE COL